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(ModL) DeF. & W. E. RICHARDS. Steam-Washer. NO. 226,552. Patented April 13, 1880'.

GIOIOOQOOOOOD'OOQYD' VIII) o 11- 1&7 2 v mznesses: v nzen'l r: )6 %2 O (5% NJFEIERS. PMOTO-LITMDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. I10,

-UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

DE FOREST RICHARDS, OF CAMDEN, ALABAMA, AND WILLIAM E RICH- ARDS, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK.

STEAM-WASHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.226,552, dated April 13, 1880.

Application filed February 3, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, DE FOREST RICHARDS, of Camden, in the county of Wilcox and State of Alabama, and WiLLIAM E. RICHARDS, of Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Washers, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is a vertical central section of our improved steam-washer. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the drip-reservoir. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a steam-distributer. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a section of the flexible drip-conductor. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the clothesrack. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the presser with catch attached.v Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the catch-plate.

Our invention has for its object to furnish an improved device for the washing or cleaning by steam of clothes and other fabrics, which is so simple in construction that it can be used by any one, which is convenient in use and effective in practice, cleansing the clothes quickly and thoroughly and without injury to the most delicate fabric.

A represents the vessel or boiler, which is made of tin, copper, or other proper material, and which may be made oval, cylindrical, or rectangular, as required. The vessel Ais provided at its base with a faucet, B, and is also provided with a flanged cover, G, which may be firmly secured in its place with clasps or other fastenings. Through the apex of the cover is a tube, h, through which the steam may freely escape after passing through the clothes.

X represents the steam-generating chamber, which in operation contains the water used for producing steam.

0 represents the drip-reservoir, the sides of which may vary in height as required. Through the bottom of the reservoir the steam is admitted from the steam-generating chamber X through steam-distributers b, which may be cylindrical in form, or of such other shape as may be desired. These distributers are made open at the bottom, closed at the top, and with openings on either side near the top. Their height may vary as circumstances may demand; but it is preferred to have them about one to two inches. By this arrangement all drip from the clothes is pre vented from entering the steam generating chamber through the tops of the distributers, and by means of openings in their sides the steam is thoroughly distributed before reaching the clothes, 'thus acting upon all parts with equality and preventing any damage to fabrics by the force of the steam. The dripreservoir 0 is held in position above the steamgenerating chamber X by brackets a.

D represents a flexible drip-conductor, which is provided with clamp e, composed of some pliant metallic or other substance, and to which is attached sheet-rubber or other flexible material, f. The drip-conductor D is intended to be attached on the inside walls of vessel A at a proper distance above the sides of the drip-reservoir O, and is to be of sufficient width to be drawn over said sides, thereby conducting whatever drip may run down the walls during the process of steaming into the reservoir.

E represents the rack which supports the clothes, and may be made of any desired substance,in which the bars or strips K may vary in number or shape, as desired, and may either run parallel or at right angles with each other, being supported on the drip-reservoir by a rim or legs sufficiently high to prevent any cont-act with the foul water contained therein.

F represents the presser, which may be made of any desired material, and the bars on may vary in number or shape, as desired, and may either run parallel or at right angles with each other. This presser is also provided with a rim and with catches or pawls g which may be adjusted tothe bars or strips in a suitable manner, and altogether is intended to press the clothes in process of being steamed tightly down and to hold them in such position.

H represents the catch or ratchet plate, with perforations at h, or with teeth, as may be preferred, which are intended to firmly hold the points of catches or pawls g as the presser is forced down upon the clothes.

In operating the steamer water is placed in steam-chamber X, but not in sufficient quantity to rise to the bottom of drip-reservoir O, and the steamer is placed over the fire. The

steam forms and passes up through the distributers b into the space above, and thence through the clothes.

Before depositing the clothes in the steamer they should be thoroughly saturated with a solution of soap and water and wrung nearly dry. They are then laid closely upon rack E and presser F firmly placed above them. Any drip from the clothes is conveyedinto the dripreservoir 0, which by its construction prevents the same from descending farther and mingling With the pure Water below. After steaming asufficient time the vessel A is taken from the fire, and after removing the cover G water is poured in at the top, which filters through the clothes, and, flooding the dripreservoir, passes through the openings in the steam-distributcrs 1) down into the steam-generating chamber X and out at faucet B. The clothes are then removed andrinsed thoroughly, when they will be found to have been perfectly cleansed.

Insteadofhaving thesteam-generatingspace X a part of the vessel A, the steam may be generated in any other vessel placed upon a stove or over a fire, and the drip-reservoir 0 set directly over the vessel. In this case the construction should be such that the walls of the reservoir 0 should, by extending them upward, form the walls of the steamer. The steam formed in this case will flow upward through the steamer, and the operation will be in all respects the same as when the steam is generated in the space X.

What is claimed as new is .l. A vessel, A, a steam-generating chamber, X, and a drip-reservoir, 0, provided with steam-distributers I), closed at the top and with openings at the sides, in combination with a flexible drip-conductor, D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A vessel, A, a steam-generating chamber, X, and a drip-reservoir, 0, provided with steam -distributers and a flexible drip-conductor, D, in combination with a rack, E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A vessel, A, a steam-generating chamber, X, and a drip-reservoir, 0, provided with steam distributers and a flexible drip couductor, D, and a rack, E, in combination with an adjustable presser, F, a catch or pawl, g, and catch-plate H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A vessel, A, in combination with faucet B and steam-generatin g chamber Xand a dripreservoir, 0, provided with steam-distributers I), closed at the top and with openings at the sides, and a flexible drip-conductor, D, and a rack, E, and an adj ustable presser, F, and catch or pawl g, and catch-plate H, and a cover, G, provided with steam-outlet h and fastenings, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

DE FOREST RICHARDS. WILLIAM E. RICHARDS.

Witnesses: I

ROBERT H. DUNCAN, BENJ. A. SMITH. 

